Istanbul – The Spice of Life
I recently returned from Istanbul and was blown away. I had always dreamed of visiting this enchanted city and it truly lived up to all of my expectations. The city boasts history, culture, cuisine and some of the kindest most genuine people I have ever met. While I visited many of the must-see sites including Hagia Sophia, Topkapi Palace and the Blue Mosque, it’s not surprise to those who know me that the highlight for me was a visit to the Spice Bazaar.
This bazaar is the home to both locals and tourists who are in search of spices, dried herbs, nuts, teas, dried fruits and plenty of souvenirs. I walked away with three types of tea and spices that will last me for many meals to come. I have already enjoyed a number of new recipes and flavors thanks to my various purchases!
Fun facts about this beautiful city:
-Istanbul is the only city in the world that straddles two continents: Asia and Europe.
-Tulips, the symbol of Holland, originated in Istanbul and were sent from Istanbul to Netherlands.
-The Grand Bazaar is the largest covered bazaar in the world, with over 3.000 shops
-Istanbul was the European Cultural Capital City in 2010, but has never hosted the Olympics.
Istanbul is a fabulous city to visit on its own, in combination with a full land tour of Turkey, or pre/post cruise. Please contact me at jessica@mccabeworldcom for more details.